Starwood Preferred Guest - NY - Please recommend a hotel

I'm going to be taking a one or two day trip; only second time to The City.

I've got meetings at 1 Wall in Manhattan. Which *wood is closest to this location? Orbitz's search tool doesn't seem to be working well for me. I'd like a Westin or W, but any brand is fine.

No suggestions? Come on all you NY travelers and residents, help a guy out!

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

If I recall, the Sheraton Russell (37th & Park) is closest. *wood has no properties in the Wall St. area. (A Four Points is opening in Feb. '04 in Chelsea on 24th St.)

Lots of threads on the pros and cons of each *wood NY property. Russell usually gets pretty good marks.

You can't go wrong with the Westin Times Square. It is on 43rd Street between 7th and 8th Avenues. As a PLT, I have always been treated well.

I would actually recommend the Millenium Hilton, it's newly renovated, with 42" plasma screens and if you get HH Gold status (see HH board), you'll have a good chance of a suite upgrade and 2 hot breakfasts each morning at church and dey (excellent food). Rates on Hilton i've seen as low as $127/night plus taxes.

Millenium is only a few blocks from Wall St.

The Hilton did keep coming up in my searches on Orbitz but it doesn't help me much on my quest to obtain Plat in *wood. I was actually thinking of hopping around to two or three hotels and stretching out my stay to get a jump on the plat requirements in 2004.

Woops, I forgot the W Union Square on 17th St. It's the closest to Wall St. but have never stayed there.

Russell http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/thumbsup.gif, especially if you have status.

If you want to stay in walking distance to Wall Street, my recommendation is the excellent Embassy Suites next to the World Financial Center. Very large, well appointed rooms and free cooked-to-order breakfast in the restaurant.

On the other hand there's a lot more to do and see in the evenings in midtown, so you won't go wrong with any of the *woods up there. My personal fave is the new Westin TS.

W Union Square is the closest *wood to Wall Street. There is a subway station 1 block outside the hotel that will take you to Wall. This hotel is in a great location (some of NYC's best restaurants are in Union Square). Let me know if you need more info.

The Ritz Carlton Battery Park City is the nicest hotel in that general vicinity. The Regent also gets rave reviews, although I haven't been, and is right on Wall Street.

I wouldn't stay downtown.

1 Wall Street appears to be at the Broadway end of Wall St (right on the corner of Broadway and Wall St.)

I have stayed at the W Union Square. It's a nice property in a great location. Lots to walk to in that area. From that location, it's an easy 10 - 20 minute commute on the #4 or #5 express subway from the Union Square station (about a short block from the hotel) to the Wall Street Station downtown. Very easy, very doable, plus the #4/#5 Wall St stop is on Broadway and Wall St. I wouldn't be surprised if there was an entrance inside 1 Wall St for the subway station.

If you choose the Russel, you can catch #6 downtown train at Park Ave & 33rd St and transfer at 14th street (accross the platform) to the #4 or #5 downtown express. Add another 5 - 10 minutes to the trip.

If you choose the W Times Square, you can catch the downtown express #2 or #3 train at Times Square to the Wall Street station (different Wall St station than where the #4 and #5 stop. This one is at the other end of Wall St at William St.)

The easiest/fastest one would be the W Union Square with the #4/#5 train. At least, that's the opinion of this former NYC taxi driver.

-David


[This message has been edited by LIH Prem (edited Jan 01, 2004).]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by LIH Prem:
I wouldn't stay downtown.

[This message has been edited by LIH Prem (edited Jan 01, 2004).]</font>

Aren't all of the hotels being dicussed downtown? If I don't stay downtown, where should I stay?

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by dingo:
Aren't all of the hotels being dicussed downtown? If I don't stay downtown, where should I stay?</font>

You better familarize yourself with NYC. The nearest Starwood hotel is miles away from Wall Street.

[This message has been edited by sergio (edited Jan 02, 2004).]

No argument here...part of the reason for the initial question.

LIH Prem has all the advice you need, unless you want to stay in midtown and commute from there (which you may want to do, it all depends on what you want to do in your off hours). The subway is absolutely the best way to go (you can get subway maps on their website, which I don't have bookmarked on this machine, but it's easy to find with Google). My experience is a few years old, but I'd say that his 10-20 minute estimate for the express train from Union Square is definitely on the high side.

I have stayed at many of the NYC properties, and depending upon your priorities, I would recommend the Sheraton Russell. I've stayed there 3 times, and each time was placed in a lovely, spacious suite. Relatively speaking, it's not too far from your destination, but is not in the center of nightlife either. I definitely prefer it to the W's in the area, although they seem to have a lot more activity taking place. The Russell is in a more residential area.

I decided to get a few stay credits. One night at the W Times Square and one night at the Westin Times Square.

Thanks for all the suggestions folks.

NYC (Manhattan) is unique in that it has two main areas with skyscrapers and lots of neighborhoods in between. The downtown area is the financial district. The midtown area is roughly 14th Street through 59th Street or so. I would take "downtown" Manhattan to mean, in your case, the Wall Street area. Roughly anything south of Canal Street.

The W Union Square is near 14th Street on Park Ave. New Yorkers would call that are 14th Street or Union Square area. It borders the East and West Village areas. It's probably more midtown than downtown in NYC.

The Russel and W Times Sq would be considered midtown, more or less.

-David



[This message has been edited by LIH Prem (edited Jan 02, 2004).]

And the Westin? That's near the Port Authority bus terminal. Hope you enjoy the area.



[This message has been edited by LIH Prem (edited Jan 02, 2004).]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by dingo:
and one night at the Westin Times Square.

Thanks for all the suggestions folks.</font>

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/eek.gif

[QUOTE]Originally posted by LIH Prem:
[B]
And the Westin? That's near the Port Authority bus terminal. Hope you enjoy the area.
__________________________________________
Warning, avoid anything near the port authority. It's probably the most congestive place in NYC and full of scary looking people. And near a bunch of porno shops unless you like that stuff.


[This message has been edited by sergio (edited Jan 03, 2004).]

Ok, if I cancel the Westin which *Wood should I go with instead? The W Union Square perhaps?

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by LIH Prem:

And the Westin? That's near the Port Authority bus terminal. Hope you enjoy the area.

[This message has been edited by LIH Prem (edited Jan 02, 2004).]</font>

You'll only enjoy the area if you enjoy overlooking Times Square and being conveniently located. The hotel is great.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by dingo:
Ok, if I cancel the Westin which *Wood should I go with instead? The W Union Square perhaps?</font>

Don't let the naysayers scare you. The Westin is a great hotel and there's nothing scary about its location - 1 block from Times Square.

The Westin is on 43rd St and 8th Ave, near the Port Authority. It's not a nice area. On the other hand, the W Times Square is on Broadway at 47th Street, in the heart of Times Square and the NYC theater district, which is very nice now. Even though the hotels are fairly close to each other, the surroundings are like night and day. That's the way NYC is .. 1 block can be a really nice neighborhood and the next block can be really seedy.

Several of us have already recommended the W Union Square as the most convenient for you, yet, you keep asking us about it, dingo. What's up with that? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif If you want to split your stays, I would go with 1 night at Union Sq and 1 night at the W Times Sq or Sheraton Russel.

The basic buzz is this:

Sheraton Russel .. recommended by many long time FTers for great Plat upgrades. Old hotel, with style, if you like that sort of thing. Quiet, stately neighborhood, but a short walk to Lex and 3rd Ave where there's lots of restuarants. Search for PremEx's post on this property, in one of them, there's a link to a photo of a nice upgraded room.

W Union Sq. .. great location, great hotel, near the village (East and West). For award stays, it's the bargain of the bunch cause (at least last year) it's cat 4. I was treated to a nice suite upgrade on a 5 day award stay here last year. Superb staff.

W Times Sq .. great location, I never stayed there. You can walk around the Giuliani-ized (http://www.time.com/time/poy2001/) Times Square, theater district, etc. Basically, worth seeing if you've never been to New York before.

-David

[This message has been edited by LIH Prem (edited Jan 03, 2004).]

[This message has been edited by LIH Prem (edited Jan 03, 2004).]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by LIH Prem:
Several of us have already recommended the W Union Square as the most convenient for you, yet, you keep asking us about it, dingo. What's up with that? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif</font>

Fair question...just wanting to make sure I got all the information possible and think I have. I'm going to dump the Westin and make one at the Union Square. I've never stayed at a W so I'll have to under my belt in one trip!

Thanks folks.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by dingo:
Fair question...just wanting to make sure I got all the information possible and think I have. I'm going to dump the Westin and make one at the Union Square. I've never stayed at a W so I'll have to under my belt in one trip!

Thanks folks.</font>

Any and all of the Starwood hotels in NYC are an experience. You are probably going to find the W hotels more expensive with smaller rooms than the Westin.

I've stayed over 15 nights at the Westin Times Square and have never even come close to feeling uncomfortable due to the area. There is one street that borders the property (and I'm sorry but I can't remember because it's not a normal exit out of the hotel) that could be questionable at late night hours - but as other posters have already indicated, one street can make a huge difference from almost any location. If you are traveling by yourself, I wouldn't recommend walking by yourself late at night anyway.

To the best of my recollection, there has never been a single murder committed at the Westin Times Square! Ha! How many hotels can say that?

I can't resist adding my two cents. I haven't stayed at the W or Westin Times Square, but I have stayed at all of the Sheratons and a couple of the Ws--all decent hotels with their own pluses and minuses. My favorite is the Essex House. It's definitely a bit farther from Wall Street than the others, but only a few minutes more on the subway. I've had good luck as an SPG gold with upgrades to park-view rooms, and there's nothing better to me than being on Central Park. It's wonderful for jogging in the park, going to the Met, or going nywhere else from midtown to the upper west side.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by sucker777:
The Ritz Carlton Battery Park City is the nicest hotel in that general vicinity. The Regent also gets rave reviews, although I haven't been, and is right on Wall Street.</font>The Regent Wall Street is probably the closest (it's at 55 Wall Street) and the nicest. However, it's closing permanently on January 16, 2004 (probable conversion to condos or co-ops).

I stayed at the Westin Times Square, I liked it and had no problem with the location. It is ONE BLOCK from Times Square and probably only 3 blocks or so from the W. At the time I went, it was $100 cheaper than the W. If they are priced similarly, then pick the one that you want.

Though, as had been mentioned, neither of them are near Wall St., one of the other options is closer. Though if you are working during the day and only going to be at Wall St. at that time and at night you will be whereever you want, then you may be better to have your hotel where you want to be at night, Wall St. is not #1 on NYC's nightlife list.

Okay, I'll add a couple of cents more.

On the Times Square Westin location. It's on 8th Avenue, one block west of Times Square. The area is in transition. I'm a Manhattan native and ten or twelve years ago I was seriously frightened when I walked a couple of blocks near there. That was the only time I have ever felt anything like that, so things were really bad. It's a lot better now. The area is not completely cleaned up, but I wouldn't hesitate to walk there now. You'll have to consider your own tolerance for edginess. I haven't stayed there, but I've seen the lobby and it's very nice.

Another possiblity a few blocks north of the W Times Square is the NY Sheraton Hotel & Towers, which is controversial (do a search on it). I stayed there about a year ago and found it much improved over some very bad stays some years ago. The rooms are NY small but the renovated ones make better use of their space and the hotel seemed to be trying, which is nice.

I like the Essex House because it's on Central Park South and I like to run there when I'm in NY. It lost a lot when its best rooms were rebranded as the St. Regis Club and it shows some age, but the location makes up for that.

I also like the NY Sheraton & Towers. It's big and impersonal, but not in the same oppressive way as, say, the Marriott Times Square. Each floor is a reasonable size, so it never feels like you're walking an endless hallway. I like its efficiency--the elevators are located close to the front entrance, and the elevators are fast and plentiful--not something to be taken for granted in New York! I also take a certain pleasure in staying on the 40th+ floor of the building, or having breakfast or a drink in the club lounge (45th floor?), and enjoying the elevated view of the city--however expansive or limited the view might be in a specific spot. I've always found the rooms to be a reasonable size and decently appointed, even before they were renovated in the last year or so.

Sorry for bumping an old thread but does anyone have any opinion on the Four Points Sheraton at the Newark Airport? My main attraction is its Category 1 status, but I've heard stories of gang graffiti in the elevators.

Woops, I forgot the W Union Square on 17th St. It's the closest to Wall St. but have never stayed there.

The W Union Sq is probably the most convenient to Wall st with the subway hub for express trains on the green line 4,5,6. takes literally less than 10 mins and no serious cross town walking required so yes, that's recommended among all *wood props in NYC.

The W Union Sq is a nice building especially if you like old buildings. The restaurant by Todd English, Olives is a plus. WUS is one of the more expensive properties but worth it, especiall if you go for a Spectacular room. I also love that area with the park that's pleasant, the farmer's market and my favorite two japanese restaurants, Japonica and Yama.

Plus if you need to catch a good rock show, there is always something going on at Irving Plaza.

W Times Sq is my next fave property for its design. It's simply out of the world.

There is a W sale going on now for some really great prices and ends Nov 2 - www.starwoodchicago.com/wthanks

Aren't all of the hotels being dicussed downtown? If I don't stay downtown, where should I stay?

Wall St area is downtown, waaaay downtown Manhattan. You really dont want to stay there, especially if you are not local because it goes pretty dead by night. It's boring, there is a lack of social life and sometimes feel shady.

I'd just stay in the nicer neighborhoods - like i said - W Union Sq is an excellent choice mostly due to location, property as well as ease of getting to Wall St. In fact, extreme ease,... that it doesnt even matter that you are not at Wall St.

Good luck and enjoy NY. And if your mtg is during Thanksgviing week, consider the W Hotels sale!